I

At last! In sight of home again,
        Of home again;
No more to range and roam again
      As at that bygone time?
No more to go away from us
        And stay from us? -
Dawn, hold not long the day from us,
      But quicken it to prime!

II

Now all the town shall ring to them,
        Shall ring to them,
And we who love them cling to them
       And clasp them joyfully;
And cry, "O much we'll do for you
        Anew for you,
Dear Loves!—aye, draw and hew for you,
       Come back from oversea."

III

Some told us we should meet no more,
        Should meet no more;
Should wait, and wish, but greet no more
       Your faces round our fires;
That, in a while, uncharily
        And drearily
Men gave their lives—even wearily,
       Like those whom living tires.
IV

And now you are nearing home again,
        Dears, home again;
No more, may be, to roam again
       As at that bygone time,
Which took you far away from us
        To stay from us;
Dawn, hold not long the day from us,
       But quicken it to prime!